Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, who is a permanent witness at the committee. He is joined by Mr. Mark Brady, deputy director of audit. Apologies have been received from Deputy Deering.

The first item is the minutes of the meeting of 9 May. Are they agreed? Agreed. There are no matters arising from the minutes which cannot be dealt with as we move through our correspondence.

There are three categories of correspondence. Category A deals with the opening statements and briefing material for today's meeting. Nos. 2162A and 2163A from the Department of Health, dated 14 May, are the briefing documents and opening statement for today's meeting. Is it agreed to note and publish them? Agreed.

No. 2164, from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, dated 15 May, is the board's opening statement for today's meeting. Is it agreed to note and publish that? Agreed.

Category B comprises correspondence from Accounting Officers and Ministers and follow-up responses to PAC meetings and other items for publishing. No. 2131B from Mr. Donal McManus, CEO, Irish Council for Social Housing, dated 15 April, provides a breakdown requested by the committee of all tenancies - 29,803 housing units - offered by approved housing bodies, including a clarification of the length of tenancies, the number of tenants with tenancy-for-life status, and those with four-year, six-year and ten-year tenancies. This information may inform our considerations in producing our periodic report on housing. We noted and published this item at our last meeting and agreed to hold it over for further consideration this week. We will discuss it when discussing housing.